Katie Drinkwater Gregg

Why I Chose Duke Engineering

I decided to choose Duke Engineering while sitting in Twinnie’s during my Blue Devil Day. While I enjoyed my brownie, I watched the people around me. I was amazed at how passionate and excited everyone was about what they were doing. The atmosphere was thoroughly collaborative, enthusiastic and energizing. During my Blue Devil Days visit, I also found out about the amazing engineering extracurriculars available through Pratt. I was excited by the opportunity to pursue engineering design outside of the classroom. Lastly, I chose Duke because it had opportunities outside of engineering. Every student had multiple interests, knew people outside of their program and explored campus and the Triangle.

Before Duke Engineering

Growing up in Reno, Nevada, Duke was not even on my radar. I became interested in engineering through a STEM program at my high school. When I decided to go out-of-state for college, Duke quickly rose to the top of the list.

After Duke Engineering

After graduating from Duke, I moved to Blacksburg, VA to begin a PhD program in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. Many incredible mentors at Duke inspired me to pursue a career in higher education, and I would not be in grad school without them. My research spans engineering design, curriculum development, teamwork, feedback literacy, decision-making, engineering extracurriculars, women engineers and beyond! After finishing graduate school, I hope to teach mechanical engineering at the undergraduate level.

5 Ways to Maximize Your Time at Duke

1. Never stop trying new things. Duke and Durham have so, so much to offer. The best way to maximize your time is to take advantage of opportunities and keep your eyes peeled for something new.
2. Be a leader. Duke students are naturally leaders, but sometimes we need a leap of faith to reach our potential. I found it extremely rewarding to serve on exec boards for extracurriculars, but everyone has a different way to lead. Regardless of your leadership style, get out there!
3. Take breaks for fun. The best way to maximize your productivity is to maintain a good work-life balance. Find the places and activities that bring you joy, and make time for them! My happy place is Duke Gardens.
4. Get to know faculty, staff and alumni. Everyone wants the best for you and is excited to help you on your Duke journey. Take the time to get to know the incredible people around you!
5. Harness your school spirit. One of the things that drew me to Duke was the passionate school spirit that Blue Devils radiate. Take pride in your accomplishments on campus and cheer on your fellow Blue Devils!